The Effect of Probiotic Dietary Supplements on Oral Candida Albicans Colonization in AIDS Patients

Abstract

Background and Objective: Oral candidiasis is one of the most common oral manifestations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This condition affects the patients’ quality of life. This study aims to assess the effect of probiotic dietary supplements on oral Candida albicans (C. albicans) colonization in AIDS patients. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 30 AIDS patients with less than 100 CD4 cells per mm3, who were under anti-retroviral therapy. The patients were then randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control (n=15), based on their medical file number (even, odd). The intervention group received probiotic tablets (2 tablets/day for 1 month) along with anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The control group only received ART. One mL of saliva was collected from each patient on the first day of study and after intervention and was cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar to quantify the number of C. albicans colonies in colony forming units/milliliter (CFUs/mL). Findings: The two groups were initially identical in terms of CD4 count. Nine patients were withdrawn from the control, and 8 patients from the intervention group. Thus, 13 patients were analyzed (4 females, 2 males in the control group, and 4 females, and 3 males in the intervention group). The C. albicans colony count was significantly higher in the test group before the intervention (CFUs/mL=47714±40372, p=0.038). The difference in C. albicans colony count was not significant between the two groups after the intervention. In the control group, the C. albicans colony count did not change significantly (7833±1722 before, 7666±2160 after) while in the intervention group, the number of C. albicans significantly decreased after the intervention (47714±40372 before, 14571±25683 after, p=0.02). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it appears that probiotic dietary supplements can decrease C. albicans colonization.